Michael Francis Leary

US Patent:

7240215, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

Jul 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/621947

Inventors:

Rafael Graniello Cabezas - Austin TX, US
Michael D. Leary - Austin TX, US
Jason Eric Moore - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 9/00

US Classification:

713184, 713168, 713171

Abstract:

A system and method for managing parallel SCSI device functionality is presented. A user sends a request to a vendor whereby the request corresponds to the user changing the functionality of one of the user's SCSI devices. The vendor generates and sends a key that includes a password and a functionality value to the user. The user extracts the password, extracts the functionality value, and includes them in a command descriptor block. The user includes the command descriptor block in a SCSI command, and sends the SCSI command to the user's SCSI device whereupon the SCSI device validates the password and reconfigures itself based upon the functionality value. The SCSI device returns a message to the user indicating whether the reconfiguring process was successful. In turn, the user forwards the message to the vendor so the vendor may bill the user accordingly.